Rolling Meadows Park District Awarded Public and Private Funding for Community Cleanup Event

Saturday, April 16, 2022

Rolling Meadows Park District has even more to celebrate this Earth Day!

The District recently received a $1,000 grant through the Illinois Department of Natural Resources Earth Day in the Parks program. Funds from the grant will be used to purchase three new trees to be planted during Community Cleanup Day in Kimball Hill Park. Additionally, the Rolling Meadows Park Foundation received a charitable grant $2,500 from Northrop Grumman in Rolling Meadows, which will help fund Community Cleanup Day. Environmental stewardship is an area of focus for the company's corporate citizenship efforts.

Set for 10am-noon, Saturday, April 23, Community Cleanup Day is presented in partnership with the City of Rolling Meadows Environmental Committee. The event features a variety of Earth Day-related education and activities, including a wildflower planter craft for kids and the opportunity to help clean and beautify Kimball Hill Park and other areas. Attendees interested in assisting with the cleanup and planting portion of the event are asked to bring gloves; the Park District will supply tools and other necessary items. Tasks will include planting trees, shrubs and flowers around the Kimball Hill Park waterfall area, along with mulching and soil distribution. Volunteers will also work with the City of Rolling Meadows Environmental Committee to install native sedges and erosion blankets, trash collection down Barker Avenue and the creation of a woodchip pathway at Emily's Prairie.

Trees slated for planting include Shingle Oak, Common Hackberry and Kentucky Coffeetree.

“We are fortunate that the creek runs through much of our parks and provides a lot of natural habitat for birds and other wildlife,” said Parks Foreman Bill Shine. “These trees will enhance that habitat and provide shade and beauty for our park patrons. It's rewarding to plant something you can see grow and thrive over the years for everyone to enjoy.”

Other activities include:

  • Story time with Rolling Meadows Library
  • Local honey and beekeeping education from Banger's Bees
  • Oil recycling information from Rolling Meadows Park District Community Sponsor A-J&H Transmission in Palatine
  • Bike collection for used/good condition bikes through bikesandmusic.org
  • Gardening/membership information from the Rolling Meadows Garden Club
  • Expired/unused medication collection by Rolling Meadows Police Department

To discourage single plastic bottle use, Boxed Water is providing individually boxed waters in sustainable packaging. Attendees are also encouraged to bring a reusable water bottle to receive an exclusive Kimball Hill Park water bottle sticker as part of the Park District's new limited-edition collectable sticker series.

“This will be a day of fun and an opportunity to get some exercise and a feeling of contribution,” Shine said. “Come join us and help make the community a better place.”

For more information visit rmparks.org or call 847-818-3200.